Cuomo says DiFiore selection sends a message

Appearing in Albany after hosting a meeting to try to iron out issues with a bill involving livery cabs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo praised Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore, who was the governor’s pick to chair the newly minted Joint Commission on Public Ethics.

Cuomo said tapping a sitting prosecutor to head the commission “was a signal that we are taking this very, very, very seriously.”

The 15-member panel—appointed by Cuomo and legislative leaders—will be able to investigate ethics charges in both the executive and legislative branch of state government.

“I think the message was credibility and integrity, and I don’t think you could send a stronger message than appointing a sitting district attorney … let alone with the credential of Janet DiFiore,” Cuomo said.

Cuomo said he doesn’t have any concerns about having an elected official – who raises money from various interests for reelection campaigns – lead the board. Nor was he concerned that DiFiore is president of the state District Attorneys Association, which weighs in on legislation at the state level.

The state has “politicians” run for the county district attorney positions and state attorney general, Cuomo noted.

“Look, we have addressed the question: Can you have a ‘politician’ in law enforcement?” Cuomo said. “Can you have a politician that raises money? Of course you can.”

Cuomo weighed in on a handful of other topics, as well as the ongoing debate over when the state should hold its primary election for state lawmakers.

While Cuomo again didn’t reveal his preference of when it should be held, he did say he hopes the state doesn’t have three separate primaries—one for the Presidential election, one for state races, and one for local races—citing the cost it would have on local governments.